Stars Baseball Club celebrates historic junior season success
From league and cup triumphs to provincial honours and a growing player base, Stars Baseball Club wrapped up its junior season by celebrating the achievements of its young athletes, coaches and supportive families.
The spirit of celebration filled the hall as the Stars Baseball Club closed off its junior baseball season with a prize-giving ceremony recognising a year marked by growth, achievement and community spirit.
What began years ago as a single junior team has now grown into a thriving club boasting five full junior teams, with players, coaches and families packing the venue to capacity during the awards evening.
Club members reflected on the remarkable journey of the Alberton-based baseball club, which has become a growing force within Gauteng baseball circles.
The evening not only celebrated trophies and medals, but also the commitment and passion shown by players, parents and volunteers throughout the season.
Special recognition was given to the club’s dedicated coaching staff, who devoted countless hours to mentoring young athletes both on and off the field.
The junior coaching teams included Bianca Marenco, Nicole Moreira and Carmen Edward for the U8 division; Shaun Niemand, JP Moreira and Dan Mashinini for the U10 side; Shawn Gareth and Bevan Strydom for the U12 team; Kyle Edwards and Ashley Grieve for the U15 division; and Ryan Kahn and Justin Wilson for the U19 squad.
The club also acknowledged the important roles of scorers and umpires, praising their commitment and consistency throughout the season.
Several players and volunteers walked away with prestigious floating trophies during the evening. Juliano Moreira received the Future Coach award, while Tyler Niemand was honoured with the Garrett Pinnacle Award. The Junior Golden Glove Award ended in a tie between Lesedi Mthembi and Salvador Moreira.
The Taryn Niemand Angel Award was shared by Bianca Marenco, Liza De Jager and Nicole Moreira, while Juandre Grobler received the Unshakeable Award.
Shaun Niemand was named Coach of the Year, and Salvador Moreira earned the coveted Ron Peterson Star Award.
The season also delivered historic success on the field.
The U15 side secured a tie for first place in the league and also shared first place in the cup competition, marking one of the club’s most memorable achievements to date.
The U10 team also celebrated success after finishing tied for the cup in their division.
To commemorate the milestone achievements, players from both the U10 and U15 teams were presented with Grey Caps during the ceremony.
The club further celebrated players who excelled at the provincial level after receiving honours at the Gauteng awards ceremony earlier this year.
Among the standout performers were Calvin Niemand, who was named U15 best fielder, and Conner Grieve, who received the U15 best batter award. In the U12 category, Neriah Kahn earned best fielder honours, Kyle Grieve was recognised as best batter, and Kayne Garrett received the best catcher award.
Santiago Marenco stood out in the U10 division after being named both best fielder and most valuable player.
The club extended heartfelt thanks to parents for their continued support throughout the season, acknowledging their role in sustaining and growing the organisation.
With the junior season now concluded, excitement is already building for the next chapter as Stars Baseball Club looks to continue its upward trajectory both on and off the diamond.
Residents interested in joining the club’s junior, senior or ladies teams can contact Shaun Niemand on 072 148 2535.
